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| Scan of the last page of the letter |
After the Pope's close friend and secretary of his Papal Council of Nine Cardinals did this days ago, now another Bishop threatens with "excommunication" the faithful who go to masses of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).
Where? In Argentina...
In all honesty, Bishop Sarlinga is considered a "conservative"*, closely linked to Opus Dei (though not a member), and for that reason was widely regarded in the Argentinian Church as someone deeply despised by the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, of whom he was considered an "ideological" adversary.
His letter is much longer, but with the same references to the Letters of Benedict XVI following the removal of excommunications, so we translate below just the relevant conclusion.
Óscar Domingo Sarlingaby the Grace of God and of the Apostolic SeeBishop of Zárate-Campana
Diocesan Decree 27/14
...
By way of the present letter, I declare:
- The priests of the "Society of Saint Pius X" must not celebrate in churches, oratories, and other places of Catholic worship in our diocese of Zárate-Campana. It is not licit to them, either, to offer or dispense to Catholic faithful the celebration of the other sacraments, including reconciliation (Cf. C[anon] 966) and the celebration of marriages (cf. C. 1108), of which the latter would additionally be invalid, by the reason of their not having the faculties that are required.
-It is not licit for the Catholic faithful to take part in the celebration of Mass in these conditions, neither to request nor to receive sacraments from the priests of the aforementioned "Society of Saint Pius X", including in private places turned into places of worship, without excluding, in case of obstinacy, also the ferendae sententiae penalties that may apply, according to the ecclesial spirit and that of protection of the faithful.
- In the case of the rupture of ecclesiastical communion by the above-mentioned founded motives, in order to be later readmitted to the Catholic Church, a personal path of reconciliation (and eventually of removal of the canonical censure) will be required, according to the discipline advised by the Holy See and the [diocese's] own, established by the diocesan bishop.
I express the sincere and ardent desire that we let ourselves be enlightened by the Holy Spirit "so that the world may believe" (cf. Jn 17:21) and so that dialogue in Truth and Love may arise again, and that "the charity of Christ that compels us" may come first, as Saint Paul the Apostle taught us, due to which I beg the powerful help of the Virgin Mother of God, Mother of the Church.
Let it be made public and archived.
Given in Campana, Episcopal See, on the 3rd November 2014.
+ Óscar Sarlinga-By order of the His Excellency-
[Fr.] Guillermo Eduardo Díaz
Secretary Chancellor
[Full Spanish text of the letter here. / *Sarlinga has applied Summorum Pontificum in his diocese and invited an institute dedicated to the Traditional Mass to establish itself in his diocese, as we reported earlier this year. / Tip: Reader E.]
